Device for cleaning hard residue from tubes by rupturing said residue



April 7, 1953 N BlssoN y' 2,633,598

Y P. DEVICE FOR ACLEANING HARD RESIDUE FROM 'TUBES BY RUPTURING SAID RESIDUE File'd Aug. 11, 1947' INVENTOR.

Rerciva/ /tfss no BY Patented Apr. 7, 1953 DEVICE FOR CLEANING HARD RES'IDUE FROM TUBES BY RUPTURING SAID B-ESIDUE Percival N. Bisson, Olympia, Wash., assigner, by decree of distribution, to Ethel Mae Bisson Application .August 11, 1947 Serial No. 768,021

6 Claims.

MY invention relates to a cleaner for the exterior surfaces of a cylindrical member. More particularly, my invention relates to the cleaning of cylindrical members as pipes, which have formed on the surfacesY thereof. av hard residue which can be ruptured or broken by pounding on such residue.

Many pipes, due to their use and environment, have scales of various residues on the. surface and. it is an object of my invention to remove such scale or residue and to clean. the external. surface of the pipes.

AsV an example of an environment. in which my nventionmay be used, but not as a limitation` thereof, my invention will bey described in connection with its use in driers for wood veneer sheets which. are later to be made into plywood.

In drying. veneer sheets of wood, temperatures on the order of 300 F. yareemployed in a housing which is. closed except for the opening to per.- mit the introduction of veneer sheets and an exit for veneer sheets. The veneer sheets are suppor-ted by driven rollers positioned above and below the veneer and the rollers are commonly driven and in all cases are rotatably mounted. Due to the temperatures involved, wood exudes various substances as pitches and resins and the exudates or the reaction products of the exudates heat become deposited on the rollers in the drier;

It is necessary to periodically remove the scale; foreign matter or coating on these rollers or else serious objections obtain. For example, the coating on the rolls may discolor the veneer sheets or. it buildup-the rollers to an. extent where the passage Way between rolls is limited and the veneer'sheet is therefore marked.

- Also, the presence of the Wood exudates or the reaction products thereof and heat are inflammablcl and presenta fire hazard. While other reasons may be cited for the necessity of main taining the rollers substantially clean, it is now recognized that it isv good engineering practice to periodically clean the rolls of a plywood drier at spacedperiods in the order of one week.

While many practices have been suggested, theY most'practical practice heretofore employed was to steam clean` the rollers and this at as close va period as possible to the time the drierY was being' laidup at the end of each working Week'.

ing of the rolls might be useful in cleaning the same.- However, to my knowledge no device has been presented which will provide commercial results in cleaning veneer drier rollers.

Heretofore, it has been suggested that pound-v In a veneer drier, it is not uncommon to have ten to twelve sections of drying units and where each section includes 5G- to 90 rolls. These rolls are relatively closely spaced together and are in superposed levels. At each level there will be top and bottom rolls for the sheet of veneer which is supported and 5 to 7 level driers are commonly used.

It is an object of my invention to provide a rotatably mounted hammer head carrying revolvably mounted surface contacting hammers which are driven by an air motor.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an air motor with the exhaust thereof directed toward the surface being hammeredso that upon rupture of the surface coating of the roll the exhaust air may be employed to drive olf the ruptured surface coating.. In other words, it is an object of my invention to blow ofi the loosened surface coating as soon as possible after a minimum of pounding.

It is another object of my invention to support the hammer head by rotatably mounted carriers which rest on adjacent rollers to be cleaned.

It is a further object of my invention to support the hammer head by rotatably mounted supporting means and to simultaneously clean two adjacent rollers and preferably from the upper 4and undersides of said rollers.

It is a further object of myinvention to provide side thrust means so that the rotatably mounted hammer head can be maintained intermediate two adjacent rollers or maintained adjacent only one of said rollers. I

v The above mentioned general objects of my invention together With others inherent in the same are attained by the devices illustrated in the ac'- companying drawings, throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts.

, Figure l isa top plan view, with parts broken away, oi a device embodying my invention, wherein the hammer elements are in retracted position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of the structure shown in Fig. 1 and with the hammer elements in extended position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on broken line 3--3of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the hammerv elements in extended position and taken substantially on broken line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5r is a View in elevation, with parts in section, taken substantially on broken line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a View in end elevation of a modified form of my invention relating particularly to a carriage member used where one of two adjacent cylindrical members is being cleaned.

A hose connector 'I connects to any suitable source of air under pressure. The hose connector 'l may be of any common type and can be readily obtained on the market. The hose connector 'I is preferably connected with a shut-off valve 8 to provide a self-contained unit so it will be unnecessary to be limited to a source of air under pressure having a readily available shut-off means. A carriage member is provided which may include standard water or steam pipe 9. The longitudinally extending pipe 9 has secured thereto two supports, as pipes I9 and Il, which extend laterally from the pipe 9. The pipes ID and II can be connected with the pipe 9 by any suitable manner as by welding as indicated in Fig. 1.

The pipes Il! and I I rotatably mount sleeves I2 and I3, which preferably have knurled surfaces, and the said sleeves are retained in place by any suitable means, such as holes It and I5 and cotter pins passing therethrough (the cotter pins are not shown). Transverse restraining means I6 and I7 are employed to resist transverse movement of the carriage as the hammers (hereinafter described) pound against adjacent pipes. The length of the restraining means I6 and I'I will depend upon the type and nature of the drier, concerning which the rolls thereof are to be cleaned. A way of securing the restraining means IB and I'I to the pipe 9 is by welding the same to the side of the pipe 9 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The carriage includes not only the parts 9 to I'I inclusive, but members I9 to 2S inclusive. The side outlet T I8 is positioned with the side outlet projecting downwardly. The aligned openings of the T project laterally and the other opening of the T projects longitudinally of and connects with the pipe 9. The side outlet T I8 is connected with the pipe 9, rods I9 and 20 and sleeves 2l and 22. The sleeves I2-I3 and 2I-22 are thus rotatably mounted on the pipe or carriage 9 and the sleeves I2--I 3 are longitudinally spaced as respects the sleeves 2I-22 and thus such sleeves function as longitudinally spaced roller supports carried by said carriage member 9, eX- tend laterally on both sides of said carriage member 9, and are adapted to rest upon two adjacent cylindrical members to be cleaned.

It is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the use of the side outlet T I8 as I may weld rods I9 and 2i) to pipe 9 as was indicated in connection with pipes cr rods I0 and II to pipe 9. `If a side outlet T I8 is employed, its lateral openings must be plugged against the escape of air and I thus have indicated plugs 23 and 24, which plug the said lateral openings and at the same time support the rods I9 and 29.

The sleeves 2I and 22, which preferably have knurled surfaces, are rotatably mounted on rods I9 and 2U and they are held in place by holes 25 and 29 and cotter pins passing through said holes (said cotter pins not being shown). The side outlet of the side outlet T I8 is preferably connected to a nipple 2 to provide for suitable adjustment in length of the hammer head below the elevation of the carriage. In other words, the relative elevation of the hammer head to the carriage can be adjusted by providing a coupling or nipple 21 of desired length. The coupling 21 connects with an elbow 28 which is coupledto an air driven motor 29. From the parts thus described, it will be obvious that air entering coupling l passes through shut-off valve 8, through pipe 9, through side outlet T I8, through coupling 27, through elbow 28 and to air motor 29.

The internal structure of air motor 29 forms no part of this invention and hence the same is diagrammatically illustrated. However motor 29 is of a construction so that by the use of air under pressure rotary motion of the shaft 3D obtains. Also, the exhaust or exhaust ports 3| (see Figs. 1 and 5) generally direct air against the surface being hammered. Thus, the air is utilized for the purpose of driving motor 29 and the exhaust air from said motor 29 is utilized in the cleaning action.

The hammer head which I desire to use in my invention embodies plates 32 and 33 which are held in suitably spaced relation by shouldered studs 34 which shouldered studs 34 carry reduced threaded end portions 35 and nuts 36 thereon. Each stud 34 supports a tubular hammer 31 and the plates 32 and 3?. are held suiciently spaced between studs 34 so as not to limit cut away, as best shown in Figs. l and 2, to reduce the effective pounding area and, at the same time, not to substantially reduce the mass of the hammer. Also, such cutting away of the hammer 3T eliminates sharp corners and possible damage to the cylindrical members on the pipes being cleaned.

In the use of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, the sleeves I2, I3, 2| and 22 are supported on two adjacent cylindrical members as two adjacent rolls-in a veneer drier. The restraining means I9 and fII are of a length to limit side movement of the device as the device is caused to move longitudinally of the pipes to be cleaned. As the air motor is driven, the hammers 31 move radially, for example, from the position shown in Fig. 3 toward or to the position shown in Fig. 4, and said hammers 31 will contact and pound the surfaces to be cleaned, and preferably from a position to one side of the center line of the pipe being cleaned. By having the hammers act on surfaces of the rolls to one side of the center line,

it is possible to clean four rolls at a time, two" adjacent rolls above and two adjacent rolls below the hammer head. At' the same time, preferably the rolls to be cleaned are driven so that all of their surfaces are uniformly exposed to the hammer action of the hammers 31. At the s ame time that aparticular Surface is being hammered, the' exhaust air from the air motor 29 will be directed toward the surfaces being hammered and' by the eight hours after the veneer drier has been shut down. This leaves time enough for the wood exudates or heat reaction products thereof, to

set and form a lm of the best characteristics In other words, the nlm is not so hard that it will become powdery for removal by my device.

by a pounding action and require pounding of each and every minute surface area, and the film is of a character so it can become ruptured and so air will augment the cleaning action. If my adsense device: is; used directly' after the drier has been shut: down, then the surface coating on: the rolls oi the veneer drier is 'somewhat tacky or viseous. OriA the other hand, ifL too long a period of. time is allowed to elapse: their the film be comes tough, tightlyy bound to the rollers and tends topowder rathertlianrupture;

Referring to. Fig. 6 ofthe drawings, an altere native construction of my invention is shown. This is a view in end elevation and will corre spend' to a view taken from the right of either Fig. 1 or Fig. 2," and looking toward the left. The pipe S, plugs 23 and 24, side opening elbow i8, rod |9,sleeve 2l, hole 25, plate 33, hammers 3l, reduced end portions 35 andv nut-s` 3t-l may be duplicates of the parts bearing similar numbers in theY previous figures and therefore are given similar numbers. Also, the rod 2i) may be sim-i.- lar tothe-rod 2G of the previous'ngure's" and is therefore given a similar number. Inlfigt.v 6 l'. have shown an attachment which is secured. to therod 2i]l so that the devicemay be used'to clean one of. two adjacent rolls rather than cleaning both of said adjacent rolls or the device may be used to clean two rolls, one' above the other rather than four adjacent rolls. This attachment comprises a pipel or sleeve Se which is longitudinally slidably adjustable relative to pipe 26 as by means of bolt 3S and nut 4e. Means are carried by the sleeves 38 so that a thrust can be exerted against one of two adjacent pipes and the other of said pipes may be cleaned. This thrust member may comprise an elbow 4|, nipple 42, a T 43, a pipe M, a pipe 45, an elbow 46 and a pipe 4l. The pipes fifi, 45 and 41 rotatably carry sleeves 48, 49 and 5. Preferably sleeves 48, le and 5) have knurled surfaces similar to sleeves I2, I3, 2l and 22. and 5i! may beheld on pipes 44 and 41 by holes 50 and 5| and cotter pins passing therethrough (not shown).

which serves as a thrust member and the other adjacent pipe supports sleeve 2l. Thus the sleeves 48 and 5t function as lateral thrust resisting means connected with said carriage member 9 and contacting at least one of said cylindrical members (a cylindrical member to be cleaned) By adjustment of the set screw 39 and lock nut 4d, suitable support may be provided so that the hammer head comprising hammers 3l will hammer one oi said two adjacent rolls. At the same time, the exhaust from the motor 29 will be directed generally against the surfaces being hammered. rIhe saine mode of operation oi the device of the previous gures will obtain when the accessory of Fig. 6 is employed except that only one of two laterally spaced adjacent rolls is being hammered rather than both thereof and also two vertically spaced rolls may be hammered.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangements of the parts of my invention without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiments of my invention.

I claim:

l. A cleaner for the external surfaces of adjacent substantially horizontal cylindrical members comprising an elongated carriage member adapted to lie substantially parallel to the axes of the cylindrical members being cleaned; longitudinally spaced roller supports carried by said carriage member, extending laterally on both The sleeves 48 A yoke is provided by sleeves 48, 4,9v and 50 to encompass one of two adjacent pipes" lill sides of: saidicamriagemembmr; and adapted torrest upon two adjacent cylindrical rrlembers;va ver tically'offsetsupportmg'mernber carried'. by said carriage member; a rotary hammer head; means to" rotate s-ai'di heavzlr said. hammer head carried: by said; offset supporting member andi hav-ingr its axis otrotaticn substantially' par alle'i to the longitudinal axis or: the carriage member; andi a rotary hammer' carried` by' said rotar-y' hammer head and. mnunted radially of the center-'of rotation of the rotaryhammerhea'd.

2i A cleaner for the: external surfaces or adjacent substantially' hprizontal cylindrical members comprising an elongated carriage member adapted to lie substantially paralleli to the. axes of thecylindricalmembers; being cleaned; supporting means carried by said carriage member', extending" laterally on both sides of said carriagre member, and adaptedto resti upon two# adjacent cylindrical members;` laterali' thrust resisting means carriedby said supporting means contacting at least one of said cylindrical members: a hammerhead supporting means carried bysaifd carriage member; a rotary hammer@ head, means to rotate said hammerhead, said hammerhead being' carried by said hammerhead supporting member and having its axisV of rotation substantially parallel to therlongiltudinal axis of the carriage member; and a rotary` hammer carried by said rotary hammerhead and mounted radially of the center of rotation of the rotary hammerhead.

3. A cleaner for the external surfaces of adjacent substantially horizontal cylindrical members comprising an elongated carriage member adapted to lie substantially parallel to the axes of the cylindrical members being cleaned; supporting means carried by said carriage member, extending laterally on both sides of said carriage member, and adapted to rest upon two adjacent cylindrical members; lateral thrust resisting means connected with said carriage member and contacting at least one of said cylindrical members; a hammerhead supporting means carried by said carriage member; a rotary hammerhead, means to rotate said hammerhead, said hammerhead being carried by said hammerhead supporting member and having its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carriage member; and a rotary hammer carried by said rotary hammerhead and mounted radially of the center of rotation of the rotary hammerhead.

4. A cleaner for the external surfaces of four substantially horizontal cylindrical members spaced substantially about a common center with two thereof in one horizontal plane and the other` two in a horizontal vertically spaced'plane comprising an elongated carriage member adapted to lie substantially parallel to the axes of the cylindrical members being cleaned; supporting means carried by said carriage member, extending laterally on both sides of said carriage member, and adapted to rest upon thel upper two cylindrical members; a downwardly vertically offset supporting member carried by said carriage member; a rotary hammerhead, means to rotate said hammerhead, said hammerhead bcing carried' by said onset supporting member and having its axis of lrotation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the said common center about which are spaced said cylindrical members; and a rotary hammer carried by said rotary hammerhead and mounted radially of the center of rotation of the rotary hammerhead, whereby to clean simultaneously all said four cylindrical members.

5. A cleaner for the external surfaces of adjacent substantially horizontal cylindrical members comprising an elongated carriage member adapted to lie substantially parallel to the axes of the cylindrical members being cleaned; supporting means carried by said carriage member, extending laterally to at least one side of said carriage member, and adapted to rest upon at least one of said cylindrical members; a vertically oifset supporting member carried by said carriage member; a rotary hammerhead, means to rotate said hammerhead, said hammerhead being carried by said offset supporting member and having its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carriage member; and a rotary hammer carried by said rotary hammerhead and mounted radially of the center of rotation of the rotary hammerhead.

6. A cleaner for the external surfaces of adjacent substantially horizontal cylindrical members comprising a first pipe adapted to be connected at one end portion with a source of air under pressure and adapted to lie substantially parallel to the axes of the cylindrical members being cleaned; supports carried by said rst pipe, extending laterally to at least one side of said rst pipe, and adapted to rest upon at least one of said cylindrical members; a vertically offset second pipe connected with said first pipe; an air driven motor connected with said second pipe and having its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first pipe; a rotary hammerhead connected to said air driven motor; a rotary hammer connected with said rotary hammerhead and with the exhaust of said motor directed toward the cylindrical surface being hammered.

PERCIVAL N. BISSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

